US-style 'shock and awe' has just taken on a whole new meaning on this side of the pond as Britain digests what might happen to its revered 'beautiful game.' But the shame for governance, sport and the business sponsors lies in the knowledge that it has taken so long to get this far.

As The Scotsman writes this morning in an editorial: "Football’s world governing body has been dogged by such allegations for so long that when news broke yesterday that seven officials had been detained in Zurich and a further seven indicted, the first reaction was: “Does that include Blatter?”

At time of writing, Sepp Blatter, the 79 year old long-serving FIFA President has yet to make an appearance - even though he is running for re-election tomorrow. UEFA, European football's governing body, has now called for the presidential elections to be postponed. But, like everyone else involved, it hasn't exactly been loud and clear in its stance against any impropriety in the past.

British politicians are today making strong statements. "We've long said and I think many people share the view that there is something deeply wrong at the heart of Fifa and international football needs to reform, needs to get its act together. There are millions, perhaps even billions of football fans around the world who are being let down by this process which is bringing the game into disrepute and it needs to be resolved" Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told BBC Breakfast.

But as The Scotsman points out: "Allegations about Fifa corruption have been around for many years without ever being fully established. They peaked after the 2018 and 2022 World Cups were awarded to Russia, and extraordinarily, Qatar – a state with no football pedigree, and summer temperatures so dangerously high (around 50C) that the 2022 World Cup final has been scheduled for a week before Christmas. The decision to go to Qatar made no sense. What could possibly have encouraged Fifa delegates to vote for this ridiculous option?"

Foreign laborers working on the construction site of the al-Wakrah football stadium, one of the Qatar's 2022 World Cup stadiums, walk back to their accomodation at the Ezdan 40 compound after finishing work on May 4, 2015, in Doha's Al-Wakrah southern suburbs. The Qatari government has announced new projects to provide better accommodation for up to one million migrant workers. Today they organised a media tour of existing housing camps and new ones. AFP PHOTO / MARWAN NAAMANI (Photo credit should read MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP/Getty Images)

But, until now the business sponsors of international football have ridden high on public love of the game, while turning a blind eye to accountability and potential damage to reputation. The air is suddenly full of fear and recrimination.